Joseph booth



Patented Aug. 23, |898.

J. BOOTH.

AUTOMATIC PLAYING CARD SHUFFLER.

(Application filed Aug. 5, 1896.)

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No. 609,729. Patented Aug. 23, |898. J. BOOTH.

AUTOMATIC PLAYING CARD SHUFFLER.

(Application led Aug. l5, 1896.)

(No Model.) 2 Sheets-Sheet 2.

INVENTU? Jae/07:, 300270.

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ATTORNEYS.

Nirnn STATES? PATE-NT Orifice.

.rosari-1 BOOTH, oir-NEW YORK, N. Y.

AUTOMATIC PLAYING-CARD SHUFFLER.

SPECIFICATION forming part `of Letters Patent N o. 609,729, dated August l23, 1898. Application ia August 5,1896. saai No. 601,800. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, t may concern.'

Be it known that I, JOSEPH BOOTH, of New York, (Brooklyin) in the county of Kings and State of New York, have invented a new and Improved Automatic Playing-Card Shufiler, of which the following is a specification.

The objects of myinvention are to provide an apparatus for shuffling playing cards whereby, first, the expert and inexpert shuffler may be put on an equality; second, to nullify any advantage that might be gained by unscrupulous players using marked cards, and, third, to effect a more complete shuiile than is usually accomplished manually.

In the accom panyingdrawings, (two sheets) Figure l is a perspective View of my apparatus. Fig. 2 is a vertical section on line 2 2 of Fig. 3, and Fig. 3 is a vertical section on line 3 3 of Fig. 2. Fig. 4, Sheet 2, is a Vertical section on the same line as Fig. 2, but showing the shuffier proper supporting cards as at the beginning of its operation. is a horizontal section on line 5 5 of Fig. 4. Fig. 6 is a vertical section on line 6 6 of Fig. 4. Fig. 7 is a horizontal section on line 7 7 of Fig. 4f.

The body A of the apparatus (see Fig. l) is a vertical casing, preferably constructed of thin sheet metal, and has a duly ornamental contour. The cards to be shuiiied are introduced through the narrow top a 4of this casing and delivered to the interior shufiing mechanism proper, which in turn delivers them shuflied into a cavity b, Fig. 1, in the bottom portion or base of the casing, whence they may be removed manually. The edges of the casing around the top opening a, Fig. 2, are turned inward and downward to permit the cards to pass into a wider space for spreading purposes.

r[he upper portion of the casing A isvprovided interiorly with vertical guideways for cards, the same beingformed by narrow strips or partitions c c, which are attached, preferably soldered, to and extend lengthwise of two diametrically opposite side walls CZ d. lt will be noted (see Figs. 3 and 4) that said walls are slightly inclined toward each other from the top downward and that the wall d projects below the other.

The partitions c have a horizontal top portion that extends across to the opposite wall Fig. '5-

d and are extended down a short distance thereon, while the partitions c are arranged in vertical alinement with the partitions c and also directlyopposite and coincident therewith.` Themiddle portions of the bridging parts of partitions c project vertically and the outer ones incline slightly inward, as shown in Figs. 2 and 6, to facilitate a proper division of the cards when introduced through the opening a. and direct them into the vertical guideways formed by the partitions o c.

The shuffiing mechanism proper is located below the described card-guideways, and consists of a slidable device B and spring-gear C for moving it in one direction. The principal portion of said device B (see Fig. 3) is a horizontal bar e, having a series of rigid tapered or pointed fingers f, by which the cards are divided and separated, as hereinafter described. For convenience of description I will hereinafter term this device a cardseparator. A rack-bar g projects from one end of bar e andmeshes with'a pinionh, keyed onthe motor-shaft of the spring-gear or clockwork C, that is affixed to one side of the casing A. The rack-bar g is held in such engagement by a slotted guide t'. A rod j is also attached to the bar e and works in a guide-tube 7c, fixed in the casing. ,Such tube 7c has a disk Z, Figs. l and 3, on its outer end, and the outer end of the rod j isprovided with a disk or button Z' to facilitate operating it, as hereinafter described.

It will be seen, Fig. 2, that the rack-bar' g and spring-gear C are arranged at one side of the vertical passagebway through the apparatus, so that the cards will not come in con-s tact with them in descending.

The operation ofthe apparatus so far as described is as follows: Suppose the shuflier or card-separator B to be pushed out or in the inactive position shown in Fig. 3, then by applying a thumb to the disk or button Z of the push-rod j and a linger behind the disk or ange Z of the guide-tube 7c therod j may be pushed inward, thus forcing the shuffler or separator proper B to the position shown in Fig. at, during which movement the rack-bar g rotates the pinion and winds up the gear spring. Then, still holding the separator B thus pushed in, the pack of cards to be shuifled is introduced vertically through the guide IOO opening a in the casing A, and as they pass downward it is divided and separated by the apeXes of partitions c and divided into three practically equal parts or divisions. Thus one-third of the pack passes down the middle guideway and the other divisions down the respective outside guideways, and each division falls upon and is arrested and temporarily supported by one of the tapered ngers f of the shuffler or separator B. Then, the push-rod j being released, the spring-gear O rotates the pinion h in direction of the arrow, Fig. 4, and forces the shufiier B slowly backward until it resumes the position shown in Fig. 3, in which operation the cards successively fall off the fingers f on each side thereof and drop into a condenser D and pass next into a receptacle b below it, where the whole pack is thus reassembled, properly shuffled. This condenser D is a tube arranged vertically in the body of the casing A and contracted at its lower end, which is slotted its entire width to allow passage of the cards. As shown in Figs. 3, 4, 6, and '7, I provide another card-condenser m in the upper guideways, the same being formed of strips of metal curved between and connecting the partitions c. These force and hold the cards close together when descending through the guideways, so that they will strike and lodge properly on the fingers f.

It will be further seen, Fig. 2, that the bar of shuffler B is scalloped or cut at points n, between the fingers f, to further aid in condensing the cards before passing onto said fingers. The cards rest in the concavities -n and are thus supported at one corner, while their diagonally opposite corners rest against the side wall d.

As a detail of the shuffling operation it will be perceived that in the retractive movement of the shufier B the cards which are on the outside of the pack or division resting on the ngerf are the ones first dislodged. Then the next outside ones follow, and so on until only one or two remain in the center of such finger, and these iinally drop off the end of the latter.

Thus by this apparatus cards may be quickly, uniformly, and well shuffled without the possibility of deception or fraud.

1. In a card-shnfliing apparatus, the combination with the casing, having an opening at the top, a card-guideway formed of side walls and partitions attached to each of the same, and arranged longitudinally opposite those of the opposite wall, a retractible device including tapered fingers for temporarily supporting and intermixedly releasing the cards to be shufed, and a card-condensing device in the guideway, as shown and described.

2. In a card-shuffling apparatus, the casing having inturned lips or flanges around its upper opening, and a card-guideway provided with a series of card-dividers formed of partitions having transverse or bridge portions, as shown and described.

` JOSEPH BOOTH.

Witnesses:

ARTHUR COPELAND GooDYER, SAMUEL RICHARDS CARR. 

